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3232places: Newstead Abbey, Nottinghamshirehttps://juliebozza.com/?p=2705
https://juliebozza.com/?p=2705#respondSun, 29 Apr 2018 14:55:04 +0000https://juliebozza.com/?p=2705One of the places that has long been on my Must Do List is Newstead Abbey in Nottinghamshire – so I took the opportunity of a recent trip to Yorkshire, to visit on the way home.

Newstead Abbey was the ancestral home that the poet Lord Byron inherited along with his title in 1798, at the age of ten. He and his mother rented out the house and land while he was still at school, and Byron only lived there from 1808 to 1816, when he left England for the last time.

The “Abbey” was originally an Augustinian priory dating back to the 12th century. Following the dissolution of the monasteries by Henry VIII in 1539, the property was acquired by the Byron family. Our Lord Byron eventually sold the property in 1817, to help solve his financial problems. It remained in private hands until 1931 when it was given to the City of Nottingham, which now maintains it.

The only remains of the priory church are its west facade, which forms a striking part of the house’s front facade. The main house is centred on the square formed by the cloisters. Its history while owned by the Byron family seems to involve alternating fortunes, with some owners preserving and developing the estate, and busily making improvements, while others abandoned it or let it decay. The fifth Lord Byron was particularly profligate, and not only neglected the house but also sold off many of its paintings, furniture, silver and china.

When our Byron – the sixth Lord Byron – inherited it, the house was quite ruinous, and he could only afford to restore a few of its smaller rooms. He did this in style, however, so that he could live there in comfort and entertain a few friends. He used the empty larger rooms for sports such as pistol shooting and fencing, and kept a menagerie of animals there.

There is so much to see inside the house, it’s really quite overwhelming. Byron’s bed and other belongings are to be found in his bedroom, reached via a small circular staircase. The room itself has been refurbished in a style he would immediately recognise, all in greens and golds.

Approaching Byron’s bedroom.

The long Library is full of books and memorabilia, and drawings and portraits of the poet are on display throughout the house. There is also much, of course, that originates with the later owners, who tended to be much better off than Byron was.

The Library windows from the Monks’ Garden.

For visitors who are young at heart, there are appealing things to do including dressing up in costumes based on Byronic portraits, and playing various games.

A monument to Byron’s beloved dog, Boatswain.

The gardens and landscape surrounding the house are also beautiful and full of natural treasures.

A series of lakes are formed along the River Leen, and also feed the Stew Pond (for farming fish) which is said to date back to medieval times. Byron had a large monument created for his favourite dog, Boatswain, between the house and the terraced Great Garden. Many of the smaller gardens, however, were developed after his time. Beyond the gardens, there is a gorgeous swathe of parkland and woods surrounding the whole, keeping the modern world at bay.

The Gardener’s Cottage, in which you can stay, at one corner of the Rose Garden.

The place is well worth a visit for all who love parks, gardens, old houses, and monastery ruins – not to mention a must-do for all Byron fans. While you’re there, don’t forget to drop by the cafe for a piece of spice cake… Highly recommended!